Television Guitarist Richard Lloyd Dies at 75

WHO:

The Guardian - Lloyd’s wife, Sheila, and his dog, Willie Mays, were with him at the end, according to his family.

Spin Magazine - Richard Lloyd was a founding guitarist of Television.

Pitchfork - Lloyd co-founded Television with Tom Verlaine, Billy Ficca, and Richard Hell.

Rolling Stone Music - Lloyd was 75 when he died.

Rolling Stone Music - Lloyd’s family announced his death.

WHAT:

The Guardian - A crowdfunding campaign revealed that Lloyd had tumors in his liver, including one that could not be surgically removed.

The Guardian - Television recorded two studio albums during its peak.

The Guardian - Rolling Stone ranked Television’s *Marquee Moon* No. 107 on its 2023 list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

The Guardian - Lloyd said of CBGB’s: “CBGB’s is the most famous rock ‘n’ roll club to have ever existed and I fucking created it! I was the invisible force behind it.”

The Guardian - In a 2005 review, the Guardian described Lloyd’s playing as featuring “Crisp, crunchy chords, dextrous fills and torrential Van Halen-style solos.”

Spin Magazine - Lloyd’s guitar playing helped define the sound of New York’s music scene.

Rolling Stone Music - Lloyd died of cholangiocarcinoma, also called bile duct cancer.

WHERE:

The Guardian - Television was among the earliest punk acts to perform at CBGB, a venue on New York City’s Bowery that had previously focused mainly on country and bluegrass music.

Variety - Richard Lloyd died at his home in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

WHEN:

The Guardian - Television formed in 1973.

The Guardian - The band released *Marquee Moon* in 1977.

WHY:

Rolling Stone Music - Lloyd’s cause of death was cholangiocarcinoma.

HOW:

Spin Magazine - Lloyd’s playing was described as “fluid” and “jagged.”

Rolling Stone Music - Lloyd had been diagnosed with bile duct cancer in March 2026.

(UPDATED November 8, 2026 02:56 UTC)

Richard Lloyd, Television’s founding guitarist, has died at 75 from bile duct cancer. His family announced his death; Lloyd died at home in Chattanooga, Tennessee. His guitar helped define New York’s music scene, including Television’s landmark Marquee Moon.

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(UPDATED November 7, 2026 19:57 UTC)

Television founding guitarist Richard Lloyd has died at 75, his family announced. He co-founded the band with Tom Verlaine, Billy Ficca, and Richard Hell. His fluid, jagged playing helped shape New York’s music scene; he died of bile duct cancer at home in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

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(UPDATED November 7, 2026 17:57 UTC)

Richard Lloyd, founding guitarist of Television, has died at 75, his family announced. His fluid, jagged playing helped define New York’s music scene. Lloyd died of bile duct cancer, diagnosed in March 2026.